New York Giants top three players of the 2010s
Honorable Mentions
Chris Snee should and most likely will end up in the New York Giants “Ring of Honor” but he just missed the cut for this list because he retired only three years into the decade. It’s worth noting that Snee, a member of the 2007 and 2011 championship teams, is a four-time Pro Bowl pick and was also selected to the First-Team All-Pro squad in 2008. He was as durable as you could have hoped for, only missing 6 games between 2004 and 2012. That was before he had hip surgery following the 2012 season and from which he never fully recovered, forcing him to retire.
Damon “Snacks” Harrison, was not just the best run-stuffer for the New York Giants during his tenure but he was arguably the best defender of the run game in all of the NFL. He did not make the list because he was a one-dimensional player, rarely taking the field in passing situations. Additionally, his Giants tenure was cut short by David Gettleman when he traded him to the Detroit Lions seven games into his third season on the roster.
The salsa sensation, Victor Cruz burst on the scene when the Giants were in desperate need of another playmaker on offense. He helped bring New York their second Lombardi trophy in four years and his salsa touchdown celebration will forever be engrained in my memory but Cruz always had trouble staying healthy and on the field.
Many fans will probably hate me for this but as much as I love Odell Beckham Jr., he didn’t make the final three. His off-field troubles and the constant distractions he created for his team, coupled with his inability to stay healthy, kept him off the big stage. I just didn’t feel comfortable choosing him over the three I did select.
During the five years he spent with the Giants, OBJ totaled 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns but only appeared in an underwhelming 73.8% of the games due to various injuries. He’s was fined numerous times for his antics and inability to control his emotions. Also, let’s not forget the famous boat trip debacle the day before his lone playoff appearance, a game the Giants loss to the Packers 38-13 and OBJ finished with four catches on eleven targets for a measly 28 yards.
Without further ado, this is my top 3 New York Giants of the 2010s.